Reversible carrier for laundry mangle machines



1962 E. w. MALUNOWE ET AL 3,018,904

REVERSIBLE CARRIER FOR LAUNDRY MANGLE MACHINES Filed NOV. 21, 1958 Fig.3

INVENTORS Edward W. Molunowe Adwin 8. Sweet Fig.2

ATTORNEY United States PatentO 3,018,904 REVERSIBLE CARRIER FOR LAUNDRY MANGLE MACHINES Edward W. Malunowe, 2020 Beach, and Adwin B. Sweet, 3547 Kingsbury Ave., both of Fort Worth, Tex.

Filed Nov. 21, 1958, Ser. No. 775,426

1 Claim. (Cl. 214-151) This invention relates to a reversible carrier for laundry flatwork ironer machines, and it concerns more particularly, in combination with a mangle, a reversible carrier for use in transferring materials from one side of the machine to the other.

In ironing sheets and the like, the work ordinarily is fed to the rolls of a mangle from one side of the machine and withdrawn from the opposite side. It is often necessary to return a piece of work which has been operated upon to the feed side of the machine, and to rerun it through the machine one or more times. The mangle is a comparatively large machine, and it is necessary for the operator to walk around the end of the machine each time that a piece is done over. In the course of a day this may involve a considerable number of steps.

In the operation of a mangle it is also necessary from time to time to pass various small articles, such as identification tags and the like, back and forth from one side of the machine to the other.

The principal object of this invention is to provide, in combination with a mangle, a reversible carrier for use in transferring materials from one side of the machine to the other.

Another object of the invention is to provide, in combination with a mangle, a support positioned at one end of the mangle and extending upwardly above it, an elongated supporting member pivotally connected at one end to the support and capable of being swung in a horizontal plane, above the mangle, and a receptacle supported upon the end of the supporting member opposite the pivot whereby it is movable to and from stations positioned on opposite sides of the mangle.

Another object of the invention is to provide, in a reversible carrier of the type described, resilient bumper means at each of the stations for engagement with the supporting member to limit its swinging movement in one direction, latch means at each of the stations for engagement with the supporting member to prevent it from being swung in the opposite direction, fluid operable means at each of the stations for imparting a horizontal thrust to the supporting member to move it pivotally from one side of the machine to the other, and manually operable means for simultaneously releasing the latch means and actuating the thrust means.

The invention will be readily understood by referring to the following description and the accompanying drawing, in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing fragmentarily one side of a mangle having a reversible carrier embodying the invention applied thereto, and showing the carrier in released position and being swung from one side of the mangle to the other;

FIG. 2 is a top plan view of the mangle, showing the carrier in latched position at one of two stations located on opposite sides of the mangle; and

FIG. 3 is a diagrammatic plan view showing fragmentarily a portion of the apparatus.

Referring to the drawing, a mangle is designated generally by the numeral 1. A support consisting of a vertically disposed post 2 is positioned adiacent one end of the mangle 1, substantially equidistant from its sides, and extends upwardly above it. An elongated supporting member 3 is pivotally connected at one end to the post 2 and is capable of being swung in a horizontal plane,

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above the mangle 1. A receptacle consisting of .a basket 4 is supported upon the end of the supporting member '3 opposite the pivot whereby it is movable to and from stations positioned on opposite sides .of the mangle '1. [I

A pair of brackets 5, each of which includes an'up? standing post 6, which is formed of angle iron. and is connected at its lower end to a base plate 7, are remqv; ably connected to, the top of the mangle 1' on opposite sides thereof, at positions corresponding to the two "sta tions above described. Each of the brackets 5 includes a metal strap 8, which is bent angularly intermediate its ends. The straps 8 each have a horizontally disposed end portion 9 which is connected to the upper' end of the post 6 and extends outwardly therefrom, a vertically disposed intermediate portion 10 which extends downwardly from the end portion 9 and is arranged parallel to the post 6 and in spaced relation thereto, and a horizontally disposed end portion 11 which extends outwardly from the intermediate portion 10 and is positioned on the opposite side thereof from the end portion 9.

A sliding bolt 12, which has a resilient head 13, is passed through openings provided therefor in the intermediate portion 10 of the strap 8, and in a boss 14 formed on the strap 8, and has a nut 15 applied thereto. A compression spring 16, which surrounds the bolt 12, is capable of acting upon the head 13 and the strap 8 whereby the head 13 is urged outwardly for engagement with the supporting member 3 to limit its movement in one direction.

A substantially U-shaped metal strap 17 is connected intermediate its ends to the outer end of the end portion 11 of the strap 8, and extends downwardly therefrom. A latch member 18, which has a rounded upper end, is positioned between the legs of the U-shaped strap 17 and is pivotally connected thereto intermediate its ends. The latch member 18 is disposed partly in a longitudinal slot provided therefor in the end portion 11 and normally extends upwardly above it for engagement with the supporting member 3 to prevent swinging movement thereof. A tension spring 19 is connected at its ends to the lower end of the latch member 18 and to a tab 20, which extends outwardly from the post 6, whereby the latch member 18 is yieldably restrained against movement about its pivot.

A horizontally disposed metal strap 21, which is positioned immediately below the end portion 11 of the strap 8, is connected at its ends to the post 6 and the end portion 11, whereby the structure is reenforced. The end portion 11 provides an additional support for the sup porting member 3 and the basket 4.

A cylinder 22, which has a fluid actuated piston 23 movab e therein, is clamped to an angularly bent metal strap 24 which is connected at one end to the post 6. The cylinder 22 is positioned at substantially the same elevation as the sliding bolt 12, and is arranged in parallel, side by side relation thereto. The piston 23, when actuated, is capable of imparting a horizontal thrust to the supporting member 3 to move it from one station to another.

A manually operable lever 25, which is pivotally connected to an angular frame 26 mounted on the mangle 1, is connected by a wire 27, enclosed within an armored cable 28, to the latch 18 whereby the latch 18 is capable of being disengaged from the supporting member 3 by manipulation of the lever 25. The lever 25 is also capable of acting upon an air valve 29, which is mounted on the frame 26 and is connected to the cylinder 22 by a flexible conduit 30, whereby the piston 22 is capable of being actuated, by manipulation of the lever 25, at the same time that the latch 18 is disengaged from the sup porting member 3.

The invention may be modified in various ways without departing from the spirit and scope thereof.

What is claimed is:

In combination with a machine having operating stations positioned at opposite sides thereof, an upstanding support at one end ofthe machine, between the stations, extending upwardly above the machine, an elongated supporting member pivotally connected at one end to the upstanding support and capable of being swung in a horizontal plane, above the machine, a receptacle supported on the end of the supporting member opposite its pivot whereby the receptacle is movable in opposite directions to and from the respective stations, resilient meanstat each of the stations for abutting engagement with the supporting member to limit its swinging movement in one direction, means at each of the stations for References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,578,369 Robison Mar. 30, 1926 1,913,549 Holland June 13, 1933 2,624,964 Westwood Jan. 13, 1953 2,645,360 Raymond July 14, 1953 

